Racial tension in early 20th century America
I can assess the racial tensions which existed in the USA during the 1920s.
Racial tension in early 20th century America
I can assess the racial tensions which existed in the USA during the 1920s.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Ku Klux Klan revived after 1915 and was committed to protecting 'pure Americanism'.
- Membership of the KKK peaked at 5 000 000 and extended nationwide.
- Jim Crow Laws enforced segregation of African American people in the South.
- African Americans also faced persecution and discrimination in the North.
- Recent immigrants, Catholics and Jews were victims of racial tensions.
Keywords
Klansmen - members of the Ku Klux Klan were known as Klansmen
Supremacy - supremacy refers to a situation where one thing is considered better than another
Minorities - minorities are small groups of people within a country who differ from the main population in race, religion, culture or language; in the USA this included African Americans and recent immigrants
Common misconception
Racial tension was only an issue for African Americans in the 1920s.
In both the North and South, Catholics, Jews and recently arrived immigrants frequently experienced prejudice, discrimination and even violence from WASPs, just as African Americans did.
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: Racial tension in early 20th century America, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: Racial tension in early 20th century America, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the USA boom years: how did the 'boom' affect the American people? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
poor area of a city where people of a particular race or religion live
small groups of people who differ from the main population
to separate groups of people based on things like their race
situation where one thing is considered better than another